Good morning to everyone.

Let me begin by thanking you all for attending this important ceremony, where we welcome the new Chief Justice, Domitila Mukantaganzwa, and the Deputy Chief Justice, Alphonse Hitiyaremye.

Before I proceed, allow me to sincerely thank their predecessors, and in particular, the outgoing Chief Justice, Faustin Nteziryayo. We deeply appreciate the good work you have done.

Justice in our country was dysfunctional for many years, largely due to politics. It contributed to dividing Rwandans, creating discord, and even leading to killings. That is the past we come from. But where we are going – and we have talked about this for a long time – is a different place, and one that truly matters.

It is essential that we all understand this, embrace the value of living together in peace, and uphold justice and the laws that we all must identify with. Let this be the line we draw. Let this be the moment where we affirm our collective commitment to coexist peacefully, because we are all human beings. We are equal in our rights and in our dignity. No one is superior to another. Justice must support us in realising that truth.

I emphasize this because I do not want to see a time when justice fails us, and people are forced to resort to other means. There should be no substitute for justice. But where justice is absent or ineffective, other forces will inevitably come into play.

Why do I say this? As our history shows, not everyone received the justice they deserved. And some were denied justice more than others. That is the painful history we remember. Even today, there are those who still harbour ideas of taking us back to that dark past. In such cases, the law and justice must be applied. If not, other measures will be taken. And that must stop.

Harming survivors, invading their homes to kill them: this is unacceptable. The law must act. And if it does not, something else will. I say this clearly and openly so that everyone hears me: it must stop.

There are some who play political games, spreading dangerous rhetoric from inside and outside the country, often in collaboration with foreign actors, seeking to trivialise our justice system. But we are not nothing, and neither is our justice. The law and the justice I refer to must not be reduced to irrelevance.

Politics must never undermine justice. That is simply not acceptable. You don’t have to see it for it to stop. It can, and must, be stopped even before it becomes visible.

That is not the only concern, however. Another is the misappropriation of our shared national wealth. This wealth should be used to improve the lives of those in need. But when individuals claim it for themselves and squander it, that too must stop.

There is no better way to address this than through justice and the rule of law. There is no alternative. I won’t waste time suggesting otherwise because I am convinced that, if applied properly, our laws and justice system are enough to resolve these issues.

Our country still has a long journey ahead. But we are determined to reach our destination and to get there as quickly as possible.

What delays us stems mostly from poor habits and destructive behaviour. If we unite and fight against them, they too will stop. Our country will move forward. We must not allow Rwanda to remain trapped by its past. We must never surrender to despair. What is beyond us, we leave to the Creator. But what is within our reach, we must act upon it. I urge all of us to do what is possible – and we are capable – so that we can transform our country’s painful history through the path of justice.

Once again, I thank the outgoing leadership of the Supreme Court, and particularly the outgoing Chief Justice, for your service. I believe that, though challenges have existed and continue to be addressed, you did all you could to resolve them.

To the new leaders, I trust that you understand the importance of continuing on this path, and of taking yet another step forward in line with the times we are in.

To you all, thank you once again. As we approach the end of the year, I take this opportunity to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I wish you good health.

Thank you.